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ArticleTitle	A Suspension Procedure Using the Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Tendon for Distal Radioulnar Joint Disorders
AuthorList	Takuya Sawaizumi, Yoshihito Nakayama, Yasumasa Shirai, Gembun Yosikazu, Hiroshi Hashiguchi and Tomoyuki Rokugo
Affiliation	Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nippon Medical School
Language	EN
Volume	68
Issue	3
Year	2001
Page	233-237
Received	November 19, 2000
Accepted	December 25, 2000
Keywords	Sauve-Kapandji procedure, ulnar proximal stump, ulno-carpal impaction syndrome
Abstract	Recently the Sauve-Kapandji (S-K) procedure has become popular for the treatment of various distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) disorders. However, some complications, especially pain over the proximal stump of the ulna due to instability of the ulna have been reported in more recent follow-up studies. To prevent the occurrence of this pain, we devised a modified S-K procedure, which we called the suspension procedure, in which the extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon was used to suspend the proximal ulnar stump. We report here the surgical technique and compare clinical and radiographic results between the suspension procedure and the S-K procedure alone. We performed the S-K procedure alone on 8 patients (original group) and the suspension procedure on 5 (suspension group). Clinical results were assessed according to the clinical evaluation scoring system described by Inoue. Radiographic evaluations included the radio-ulnar distance, the gap of the ulna, and the distance between the articular surface of the wrist and the proximal ulnar stump. In the original group, 4 patients were rated as excellent, 2 as good and 2 as fair, whereas in the suspension group, 3 weve cuted as excellent, 2 as good and none as fair. In regard to radiographic evaluations, there were no significant differences in any of the 3 parameters between the 2 group. This suspension procedure had an advantage over the S-K procedure alone, especially in preventing the occurrence of stump pain. As there was no significant difference in radiographic findings between the two procedures regarding the site of osteotomy, the amount of bone resection, and radio-ulnar distance, stump pain may be attributed to dynamic instability rather than to static instabiliy.
Correspondence to	Takuya Sawaizumi, MD, Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan sawataku@ka2.so-net.ne.jp